i have a question. i work with my hands all the time and smash a lot of fingers. i smashed my thumb about a year ago and it still hasnt grown back right. the base grows fine but near the end is always seperate from the bed and becomes fairly thick with a white flacky stuff. what could be wrong with it and how do i keep them from doing this again the next time.

It sounds like you may have contracted a nail fungus that is causing the disfigurement of the nail plate. Whenever a nail is damaged and separates from the nail bed or there is a cut, tear or break to the seal surrounding the nail unit, it is a perfect avenue for fungal spores or bacteria to enter the site and set up housekeeping. See your physician or dermatologist for diagnosis and go from there.